Winnipeg General Hospital School of Nursing, Class of 1911

Ethel Theodora Paynter, Class of 1911

Ethel Theodora Paynter was born on October 10, 1884 at Beulah, Manitoba.

She graduated from the Winnipeg General Hospital School of Nursing in 1911 and was on staff at Winnipeg General Hospital before enlisting with the Canadian Army Medical Corps (CAMC) in 1916.

Nursing sister Paynter served in both England and France for three years and was stationed at the No. 1 Canadian General Hospital in France and in 1917 transferred to the No. 4 Canadian Casualty Clearing Station where she worked with Lieutenant-Colonel S.W. Prowse, a physician from Winnipeg, who was in charge of the CCS. For her war service she received the Royal Red Cross Second Class in March 1919.

When she returned to Canada in June 1919, she nursed at the No. 10 Manitoba Military Hospital (Tuxedo Park) until she was discharged due to a knee injury in September 1920.

She married William McKay in 1920 and they moved to the Cessford district in Alberta before moving to Calgary in 1973. She lived in Calgary until her death on March 3, 1981 at the age of 96 years.

[Winnipeg General Hospital Training School for Nurses acceptance information sent to Theodora Paynter. Jan. 20, 1908]

Louise Newcombe, Class of 1911

[Louise Newcombe, Class of 1911]Louise Newcombe was born on February 5, 1882 in Deloraine, Manitoba. She graduated from the Winnipeg General Hospital School of Nursing in 1911. After graduation, she was involved with anti-tuberculosis work in Winnipeg. She joined the staff of Winnipeg General Hospital in 1914 and resigned in 1917 when she enlisted with the Canadian Army Medical Corps (CAMC).

Nursing sister Newcombe served in both England and France and was posted to the Kitchener Military Hospital, Brighton (No. 10 Canadian General Hospital). She also served at the No. 2 Canadian Stationary Hospital, Le Touquet, France.

Click the link to read a letter written by nursing sister Louise Newcombe where she describes Christmas Day 1917, while stationed at Kitchener Hospital, Brighton.

After returning to Canada in 1919, she worked at the Dauphin Hospital for the summer and in 1920, she enrolled in a post-graduate course in the Supervision of Hospitals and Training Schools that was delivered at Columbia University in New York. Once she completed her course, she was appointed an instructor of nurses at Vancouver General Hospital in 1920.

In 1922, Louise accepted a position on staff at Miller Memorial Hospital in St. Paul, Minnesota and two years later she was appointed Lady Superintendent (and later Director of Nursing) at St. Luke’s Hospital in Duluth, Minnesota; it was at St. Luke’s where she worked for the rest of her career and retired in 1941.

She retired to Vacaville, California and died on March 17, 1972 at the age of 91.

Please click on the links below to read about other graduates from Winnipeg General Hospital School of Nursing, 1911, that served as nursing sisters during World War I.